5 Things To Do This Week In L.A.

Even though Thanksgiving is two days away, we already need a break from all the holiday madness. Between the early bird sales and food prep, our heads are spinning — and we haven't even sat down for the first course! Thankfully, there's a slew of happenings taking place this week to distract you from the biggest dinner of the year. From a must-hit concert to a brand-spankin'-new shop, here are five excuses to leave the dining room table and receive a much-needed breath of fresh air.

Beckley's Back And Better Than Ever!
Like leftovers and rebound boyfriends, sometimes the second go-around is worlds better than the first. Case in point: Beckley's new boutique on West Third Street. With much more space, the store houses tons of merch, all organized in a sun-drenched spot. Put a few extra quarters in the meter and pay a visit to the fresh digs — you'll regret it if you don't!When: Open now!
Where:Beckley, 8128 West Third Street (between South La Jolla Avenue and South Crescent Heights Boulevard); 310-652-3500.

Local Love — Portraits Of L.A. Artists Now On View
Photographer Jason Schmidt has been working on the same project since 1997, snapping pics of artists in their respective environments for an ongoing series. Currently, 23 of those images are on display at MOCA, and highlight the SoCal folks involved. See stunning portraits of John Baldessari, Ed Ruscha, Jason Rhodes, and more — a rare opportunity to witness the people behind some of art's most famous works.
When: Now through Monday, March 18
Where:MOCA Grand Avenue, 250 South Grand Avenue (near West 2nd Street); 213-626-6222.

Rachael Yamagata Rocks The El Rey Theatre
Yamagata is kind of the queen of collabs — and while she won't have Jason Mraz, Bright Eyes, Ryan Adams, or Ray Lamontagne on stage with her tonight, she's bringing her South-infused rock to the El Rey. The Virgina native's songs have been featured on The O.C., Grey's Anatomy, and One Tree Hill — so don't be surprised if you suddenly find yourself recognizing the entire set list!
When: Tuesday, November 20, 8 p.m.
Where:El Rey Theatre, 5515 Wilshire Boulevard (between South Burnside and South Dunsmuir avenues); 323-936-6400.

Gobble Up The Thanksgiving Feast At Cecconi’s This YearHave you already said, "Screw Aunt Sally's!" and ditched the run-of-the-mill family meal? Well, if you've got a spare $50, head on over to Cecconi’s for a decadent dining experience that'll beat your mom's stuffing any day of the week. The Italian-influenced plates include Butternut Squash Tortelli and Black Truffle Mashed Potatoes along with an array of desserts. We know what we're thankful for this year — not having to do the dishes!
When: Thursday, November 22, 2 p.m.
Where:Cecconi’s, 8764 Melrose Avenue (at North Robertson Boulevard); 310-432-2000.

No Doubt We're Not Missing This Concert
Gwen Stefani and crew return to SoCal for what will likely be the most epic concert of the season. The mama of two has been killing it fashion-wise, so we can't wait to see what outfits she chooses for the big event. And, fingers crossed they perform current Billboard hits like "Settle Down" in addition to old-school faves.
When: Saturday, November 24; Monday, November 26; Wednesday, November 28; Friday, November 30, 7:15 p.m.
Where:Gibson Amphitheatre, 100 Universal City Plaza (near Buddy Holly Drive); 818-622-4440.

Los Angeles deserves a round of applause this morning, because we’re this close to officially winning over another New York-based celeb. TMZ reports that Girls creator and star Lena Dunham has thrown down nearly $2.7 million on a beautiful home just south of the Sunset Strip. We spoke with Dunham’s real estate agent read

Sure, celebrating the beginning of spring and the glorious return of Daylight Saving Time is reason enough to be excited about March. But, we happen to have a host of other things we're stoked about this month — namely, all of the ridiculously cool events our fair city has up its sleeve. L.A. has so much going on read